Parity in college basketball

[rrshock]

After watching the bloodbath in Atlantis yesterday and several other games so far this season, it appears to me that the "elite" teams aren't so elite anymore.

It seems that there are many great players spread all over now. Is this just something that is standing out more now, but has always been the case? Or are the "smaller" programs just getting better players?

[wsushox1]

After watching the bloodbath in Atlantis yesterday and several other games so far this season, it appears to me that the "elite" teams aren't so elite anymore.

It seems that there are many great players spread all over now. Is this just something that is standing out more now, but has always been the case? Or are the "smaller" programs just getting better players?

The amount of athletes that can compete (athletically) with elite schools has greatly increased. That's why there is so much parity now, imo. If an elite team has an off game the other team from "smaller" programs can now compete with them athletically and the "elite" team can't just run and steal and dunk all over them like they used too. You actually have to be a better basketball player and a better basketball team now, not just a better athlete. That's why a 16 is going to beat a 1 seed one of these days. If a 1 seed has a sub-par shooting game against an athletic 16 team they aren't just going to "out-athlete" them anymore, and the 16 team could end up winning.

[BikeIdiot]

The amount of athletes that can compete (athletically) with elite schools has greatly increased. That's why there is so much parity now, imo. If an elite team has an off game the other team from "smaller" programs can now compete with them athletically and the "elite" team can't just run and steal and dunk all over them like they used too. You actually have to be a better basketball player and a better basketball team now, not just a better athlete. That's why a 16 is going to beat a 1 seed one of these days. If a 1 seed has a sub-par shooting game against an athletic 16 team they aren't just going to "out-athlete" them anymore, and the 16 team could end up winning.

I agree and think "elite" teams are no longer playing any sort of fundamentally sound basketball. They also avoid playing defense.

[wufan]

I agree and think "elite" teams are no longer playing any sort of fundamentally sound basketball. They also avoid playing defense.

I think this has more to do with elite teams playing so many freshman and sophomores.

[BikeIdiot]

I agree and think "elite" teams are no longer playing any sort of fundamentally sound basketball. They also avoid playing defense.

Agreed.

[choida]

With one and dones and coaching changes in the elite programs,.it gives the smaller guys a chance to even the playing field... Also easier to build a more cohesive team around non ball hog players...

[Dan]

we have a talented group of freshmen on our team but I wouldn't trust them to go out there and carry us to a confernce title. Doesn't matter how highly touted they are, they're still growing and learning the game.

[pogo]

This is one of the reasons the power conferences want to up the scholarships to 15. Shrinks the talent pool for the "lesser" schools.

[Kung Wu]

I feel like club basketball at the youth levels is maturing substantially too. There are higher quality coaches at younger and younger years. The same trend is happening in soccer.

[BikeIdiot]

With one and dones and coaching changes in the elite programs,.it gives the smaller guys a chance to even the playing field... Also easier to build a more cohesive team around non ball hog players...

I think the one and done players are hurting the NBA's game also.

[im4wsu]

This is one of the reasons the power conferences want to up the scholarships to 15. Shrinks the talent pool for the "lesser" schools.

Yet, in the ACC last season, just as an example, only 10.6 players per team played an average of more than one minute per game. Example, in 36 games, NC St played 14 players, but only 9 of them played more than a total of 36 minutes (1 minute per game) for the entire season. For the conference, 210 players played, but only 161 of them played a minimum of one minute per game.


What would adding another 30 scholarship players do except increase the bench time scholarship players, eliminate spots for walk-ons (kids who truly want to play) and "steal" players from the non-P5 schools (only to sit on the bench),

[1979Shocker]

This is one of the reasons the power conferences want to up the scholarships to 15. Shrinks the talent pool for the "lesser" schools.

It would help the power conferences, but would also help Wichita State.

The MVC would probably be more lopsided than it is now.

[Rlh04d]

If teams like Kentucky were able to keep their elite recruiting classes for four (or even five with a RS year) years, no one would be talking about parity in college basketball. The blueblood teams would be dominating the NCAA tournament.

There's a combination of stronger talent across the board, increasing focus on football draining resources from schools that should be able to field much better teams, and the NBA one-and-done rule working in the favor of parity right now. If the NBA rule changes, I think parity will take a hit -- regardless of how the rule changes. Remove the one-and-done rule or lengthen it, either way the blueblood schools would benefit.

[1979Shocker]

If teams like Kentucky were able to keep their elite recruiting classes for four (or even five with a RS year) years, no one would be talking about parity in college basketball. The blueblood teams would be dominating the NCAA tournament.

There's a combination of stronger talent across the board, increasing focus on football draining resources from schools that should be able to field much better teams, and the NBA one-and-done rule working in the favor of parity right now. If the NBA rule changes, I think parity will take a hit -- regardless of how the rule changes. Remove the one-and-done rule or lengthen it, either way the blueblood schools would benefit.

There would still be parity. Are the best five freshmen going to go to Kentucky if they know that the previous year's freshmen, now sophomores, are going to get most of the minutes? Some might go to Kentucky, but not all of them like they would if Kentucky was getting the one and dones.

[BikeIdiot]

There would still be parity. Are the best five freshmen going to go to Kentucky if they know that the previous year's freshmen, now sophomores, are going to get most of the minutes? Some might go to Kentucky, but not all of them like they would if Kentucky was getting the one and dones.

I had the same thought. You beat me to it.